THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ

Press Release Article

PORT AUTHORITY’S ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AGAINST TOLL CHEATS LEADS TO 14 MORE CIVILS SUITS IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

Date: Mar 19, 2012Press Release Number: 38-2012

Port Authority Police Department Arrests More than a Dozen Violators

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has filed 14 additional civil suits against the most egregious toll violators who have repeatedly failed to pay the tolls at the agency’s bistate bridges and tunnels. This brings the total number of civil suits filed by the Port Authority to 33 since the agency launched its Wall of Shame program on February 17.

In addition to the civil actions, the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) arrested 13 toll violators and issued 24 summonses to both commercial and individual violators since instituting the new zero tolerance policy.

“This is a new era at the Port Authority – we are changing, simplifying, and demanding that we operate at the highest standards,” said Chairman David Samson. “These actions are a continuation of the Port Authority’s broad array of ongoing reforms to improve our performance.”

“These suits demonstrate that the Authority’s new leadership team is committed to a new way of doing business,” said Executive Director Pat Foye. “The Port Authority promised to take a hard-line against those who are cheating the system and filing these new lawsuits is further proof that we intend to live up to our word. We will use every resource necessary to collect the money that these violators owe to the Authority.”

“The Port Authority is owed staggering sums of money by these toll violators, and we intend to collect every dime,” said Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni.

Thirty-six companies and individuals owing the agency in excess of $50,000 in tolls and fees are currently listed on the agency’s Wall of Shame. In addition to the civil suits, the Port Authority is also working with local prosecutors to join the fight and bring criminal charges against violators.

The Port Authority filed the first round of civil suits on March 1, 2012 against 19 toll violators listed on the Wall of Shame. For additional information on the full list of toll violators, including hometowns and how much they owe in tolls and fees, visit http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/pdf/top-violators.pdf. For copies of individual complaints, call the Port Authority's Media Relations Office at 212 435-7777.

CONTACT:The Port Authority of New York and New JerseySteve Coleman, 212 435-7777

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which does not receive tax dollars from either state, operates many of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. This includes John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Stewart International and Teterboro airports; AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark; the George Washington Bridge and Bus Station; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit system; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; the Port Authority-Port Jersey Marine Terminal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan.